Combined coffer-dam and crib.



W. D. BARBER.

COMBINED COFFER DAM AND CRIB.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. |9|4.

1,182,446. Patented May 9,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. D. BARBER.

COMBINED COFFER DAM AND CRIB.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. 1914.

1, 182,446. Patented May 9, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- J a f WILLIAM D. BARBER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED COFFEE-DAM AIID CRIB,

Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented May 9, 1916.

I Application filed May 20, 1914. Serial No. 839,690.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. BARBER, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Combined Coffer-Dams and'Cribs, of which the followingis a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of my specification.

-My invention relates to a construction adapted for use either as aportable cofferdam or caisson in the construction of submarine work suchas tunnels under lakes or other large bodies of water, foundations forlight-houses, bulkheads, and other deep water foundation work; or as apermanent crib for use in connection with the water supply of amunicipality, where the crib is to be situated at a distance from theshoreline and thewater supplied by gravity to the pumping station orstations located on shore.

The object of the invention is to provide a construction which may befloated to the predetermined point of location and there sunk into placefor the purpose of constructing or preparing the necessary deepwaterfoundation work or tunnel-leads, at the conclusion whereof, theapparatus may again be floated and transportedto a second predeterminedpoint and again sunk into place for the purpose of constructingconnecting tunnel-leads, etc., after which the operation of againfloating and transporting the apparatus may berepeated until thesubmarine work or tunneling has been completed, at which point theapparatus may be left in sunken position to constitute the foundationfor a permanent cr'ib, supplied with the desired number of intakes orports whereby the water may be drawn from divergent points near or atthe bottom of the lake and conveyed by meansof the shaft of the cribthrough the connecting tunnel tothe pumping station or stations onshore.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction that willoffer a minimum amount of resistance to ware-action in case of stormsand possess the requisite strength necessary for an apparatus of thischaracter; and at the same time provide a construction of properproportions or capacity at the bottom, not only to give requisitestability to the apparatus but also permit of a suitable number ofinlets and waterpassages and controlling means commensin rate with therequirements of a suitable water-crib.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction which, whensunk-into place, will firmly embed itself into the clay bottom or hardpan of the lake, or other body of water, to a predetermined extent andinsure its permanent and water-tight setting.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction that isadapted for use as a temporary cofferdam or caisson,-

having provision for the housing of the necessary machinery, and shaftsor passages for lifts, and the like, necessary in the construction oftunnels,'etc.; the whole being so constructed that, upon completion ofthe tunnels. or other submarine work, it may constitute the permanentcrib structure, the shafts or passages being employed as passages orconduits for the water leading to the 'wellor inner compartment or shaftof the crib which connects with the intake-shaft or tunnel leading toshore.

The above enumerated objects, and other advantages inherent in theconstruction, will be more fully understood from the following detaileddescription of the drawings, where- 1112- q Figure l is a verticalsectional view of my improved construction. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectiontaken on the line a-a of Fig. 1, looking downwardly. Fig. 3 is adiagrammatic view partly in elevation and partly in section, disclosingthe general adaptation of my invention.

In the particular exemplification of the invention, the construction ispreferably shown cylindrical in general contour and comprises aplurality of concentricallyarranged metallic shells, each composed of asuitable number of separate sections or portions properly caulked andsecured to gether by rivets or otherwise, so as to provide a water-tightformation of a height to extend sufiiciently'above the water-level andwave-action of a lake or other body, of water. The outer wall of thecofl'erdam or crib is formed by the steel or metallic shell 10. theupper end whereof, for a suitabledistance, being preferably formed ofsmaller circumference than the lower end,

which latter is shown flared or enlarged as very clearly seen at 10 inFig. 1. The enlarged end is preferably secured by pro- -viding thesloping portion or section 'tion or section 10*.

i a cofferdam or caisson, and as the wall of the well or shaftconnecting with the tunnel or'shaft leading to shore, when the apparatusis intended for permanent use as a crib.

The proper relative position of the inner shell 11 is maintained by theradially disposed partitions 12; of which any suitable number may beemployed; and the space between the shells 10 and 11, is provided with abottom 13, preferably secured by means of suitable angle irons 14 and15, to the shells 10 and 11, as very clearly shown in Fig. 1. The bottom13 may be made continuous throughout the circumferential space, or itmay be formed of separate sections corresponding with the spacesintermediate of the outer and inner shells 10 and 11, and adjacentpartitions 12, in which event the various bottom sections must be firmlysecured to all of said elements or portions in order to providewater-tight compartments intermediate of the shells and the radiallydisposed partitions or walls.

The bottom 13 is secured some distance radially disposed walls 12, it isapparent that the apparatus is divided into a plurality of compartments,as very clearly disclosed in the sectional view, Fig. 2, which arepreferably made water-tight so that any number of compartments may. befilled with Water for a predetermined distance while others may be emptyfor the purpose of carrying on necessary operations or re'pairs as thecase may be.

At suitable points intermediate of the radial walls 12, each compartmentis preferably provided with a verticallydisposed shaft or passage-way16, of any desired shape in cross-section, being formed of any suitablematerial, as for example sheet metal suitably secured to the outer wall,as

shown in Fig. 2.- These shafts or passageways 16 extend from a pointadjacent the bottom 13 to a point preferably somewhat above the lake orwater level as disclosed in Fig. 1.

At points coincident with the lower ends of the'conduits 16, the outerwall or shell 10 is provided with suitable ports or openings indicatedat the points 17, which are surrounded by suitable flanges, as at 18,bolted or otherwise secured to the outer shell 10; the flanges beingadapted to receive 'the flanged ends of suitable intake pipes orconduits when the apparatus is employed as a permanent water crib.\Vhile the apparatus is used-as a cofferdam or caisson, and thereforebefore the pipes or conduits are secured to the flanges 18, the openingsare closed by a removable cap or plate as shown at 19, so that watercannot enter the shafts or passage-ways 16 while the apparatus is beingfloated to place and while 7 it is, employed as a temporary structure.

At a suitable point intermediate of the outer shell 10, and the innershell 11, and therefore concentrically in the particular exemplificationshown, is an intermediate partition or wall 20, of sheet metal,extending from a point somewhat above the bottom 13 to a pointcoincident with the tops of the shafts or passage-ways 16, see Fig. 1;although, if desired, the wall 20 may be ex tended to the tops of shellsor walls 10 and 11. The wall or shell 20 is preferably made of sectionscommensurate with the distance between adjacent walls 12, and suitablybolted or secured thereto as indicated at 21 in Fig. 2. Aside fromdividing each radially disposed compartment into two cham cated at 22,see Fig. 1, whereby communication between each -shaft or passage-way 16and the chambers intermediate of the intermediate wall 20 and the outershell or wall 10 may be established; the valve being adapted tobeoperable from the upper part of the apparatus above the water-level,by means of a suitable operating rod indicated at 23.

The intermediate wall 20 in each radially disposed chamber orcompartment, is also provided with valve-controlled port or opening'asshown at 24, preferably at a point coincident with the valve-controlledport 22, whereby communication may be established between v the outerchamber or compartment and the inner chamber or compartment locatedintermediate of the intel-mediate wall 20 and the inner wall or shell11; and the valve may be operable from the upper part of the apparatus,like the one previously described, by means of an operating rod 25.

The inner wall or shell 11 is also provided with valve-controlled ports26, preferably at points coincident with the ports 22 and 24, wherebycommunication between the compartments and the shaft or interior ofshell 11 may be had; the valves of the ports 26 being operable like theothers by means of rod 27 It will be understood from the foregoing, thatas many valve-controlled ports 22, 24, and 26 are provided as there areradially disposed chambers or compartments provided with thevertically.disposed shafts or passage-ways 16.

In addition to the flanged ports 17, the outer shell or wall 10 is alsopreferably provided with suitable valvecontrolled inlets as shown at 28,located at a suitable point beneath the normal water-level; the valvesbeing controlled from above by suitable means 29.

The upper part of the apparatus may be provided with one or moregalleries; for example it is shown provided with an extended orcantalivered top 30, shown surrounded with a suitable railing asindicated at 31, Fig. 1; the top not only providing a suitable coveringfor the various shafts, chambers or compartments, but also providing asuitable platform for the placing of necessary implements as well asspace for the placing or housing of supplies, sleeping quarters, etc.;the platform or top 30 may be extended beyond and about the entire upperpart of the structure.

Beneath the top 30, I illustrate the struei ture provided with a secondplatform 32, which may be supported by suitable angleirons as shown at33; this second platform 32 being adapted to receive the necessarymachinery, heating plant and other equipment for use in construction andoperation.

The platform 32 is preferably provided with one or more manholes,normally closed, as shown at 34 Fig. 1, whereby access to the portion ofthe structure beneath the platform 32 may be had.

Extending from the top to and through the bottom 13, I provide one ormore pipes or conduits 35, see Fig. 1. The conduits or pipes 35 extendthrough suitably packed apertures in the bottom plate 13; while theupper end of the tube or pipe 35 is provided with a proper valve as at36.

In practice, the construction that has heretofore been described isbuilt before the steel cofi'erdam or crib is towed out to the pointwhere it is to be located, either temporarily or permanently; the shellsor Walls having been provided with the ports previously described,which, of course, are suitably closed by caps or valves, so that thewater can not enter the compartments or chambers intermediate of theouter wall or shell 10 and the inner wall or shell 11.

The apparatus, as has thus far been described, may be readily floatedand towed out to the place where it is to be employed either as acofl'erdam, or as a water-crib. WVhen the apparatus has reached thepoint in the lake or other body of water where it is to be located, thevalve-controlled port or ports 28 are then opened to permit water toflow into chambers or compartments intermediate of the outer shell 10and inner shell 11, which will induce the apparatus to gradually sinkinto place until the lower or cutting edges of walls or shells 10 and 11rest on the bottom of the lake.

If the structure is to be used as a permanent water crib, the waterbeneath the bottom or floor 13 is then pumped from beneath the floor bymeans of the pipe or pipes 35, after which the lower edges 10 and 11will cut into the clay bottom and become firmly embedded up to thebottom or floor 13.

It is also evident that if it is desired to again float the apparatus,this can readily be effected by closing the valve-openings or ports 28,pumping the water out of the respective chambers or compartments, and,if necessary, forcing air or water through pipe or pipes 35, beneath thefloor.

In order that the outer Wall may be sufliciently reinforced and rigid,especially when the structure is to be permanently used as a water-crib,and after the apparatus has been properly placed, the inner side of wallor shell 10 may be lined with reinforced concrete as shown at 37,comprising steel I- beams and tie-rods or other steel shapes suitable tostrengthen the walls of the apparatus; and in practice, it may also bedesirable to provide the bottom 13 with a floor or covering of concreteas shown at 38 in Fig. 1. In some instances, it may also be desirable toline the interior of shell 11 in a similar manner, especially where theapparatus is employed as a water-crib.

In the use of my improved apparatus. as a water-crib, after the tunnelconstruction, intake shaft, etc. have all been completed,

and the inlet pipes or conduits have been se-,

cured to the flanges about the openings or ports 17, and the latteropened, the water flows into the different conduits or passageways 16until it reaches the valve-controlled port 22, which, being opened,permits the water to flow into the. chamber or compartment between outershell or wall 10 and the intermediate wall 20, and around the bottom ofwall 20 into the chamber or compartment between partition 20 and innershell 11, filling said chambers or compartments to the, le el of theWater in conduit orpassage-way 'shell or wall 11.

Where filtering material is employed in the manner just described, itwould be desirable to provide a suitable grating or perforated plateabove the filtering material which would prevent passage of saidmaterial. This arrangement would be especially desirable for use duringstorms when the water may have become roiled.

After the chambers or compartments have become filled to the water-levelin the conduits or passage-ways 16, and there is no need of forcing thewater through the filtering material, the port 24 may be opened, therebyallowing the water to pass directly into the chamber or compartmentadjacent the inner shell.

It is evident from the construction shown and described that the variouschambers or compartments formed by the radially disposed walls orpartitions are independent of each other, so that one or more of thechambers may be emptied for the sake of repair, etc., without, however,necessitating the closing off of the remaining chambers, and therebyinterfere with the water supply, during the use of the apparatus orstructure as a water crib. -At the same time, one or more of thechambers or compartments might be used for the location of necessarymachinery and the like.

By providing the structure or apparatus with an enlarged bottom, thestructure is not only given greater stability, but may be readilyfloated in shallow water when the chambers or compartments are empty.

I have shown and described what I believe to be the simplest and bestformof my invention, but it will be understood, of course, that theouter and inner shells or walls may be of any form, either circular,oblong, or rectangular, in cross-section, to meet the conditions; and Ido not wish to be understood, therefore, as limiting myself to the exactconstruction shown and described.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A combined coiferdam and crib, comprising spacedshells arranged one within the other, the outer shell being flared orenlarged at the lower end thereof, means whereby the shells aremaintained in proper spaced relation to each other, a bottom securedintermediate ofthe shells at a distance removed from the lower ends ofsaid shell, the outer shell being provided with closed ports arranged inproximity to the bottom of the shell, conduits or passageways extendingvertically along the inner side of the outer shell from pointscoincident with said closed ports, and means whereby communication maybe established between said conduits or passage-ways and the interior ofthe inner shell.

2. A combined cofi'erdam and crib, comprising spaced metallic shellsarranged one within the other, partitions arranged intermediate of saidshells whereby said shells are maintained in properspaced relation andthe intervening space divided into separate chambers or compartments, :1bottom arranged beneath said partitions or walls intermediate of.theshells so as to provide water-tight compartments, the lower ends of theshells being provided with cutting edges extending beneath the bottom ofthe compartments, the lower portion of the outer shell being flared orenlarged and provided with closed ports at points adapted to communicatewith the compartments or chambers formed by the partitions or wallsintermediate of the inner shell and outer shell, a conduit orpassage-way vertically disposed along the inner surface of the outershell in each compartment or chamber and registering with the closedports, the upper ends of said conduits or passage-ways being providedwith valvecontrolled openings, and valve-controlled openings arranged inthe inner shell whereby communication between the interior thereof andthe compartments intermediate of the inner and outer shells may beestablished.

3. A combined cofi'erdam and crib composed of an inner shell and anouter shell, means whereby the shells are maintained in proper spacedrelation and the space intervening divided into separate chambers orcompartments, the lower portion of the outer shell being flared orenlarged and provided with ports in proximity to the bottom of theshell, a bottom secured intermediate of the inner shell and outer shella distance removed from the lower edges thereof and adapted to formwater-tight inclosures between the inner shell and outer shell,vertically disposed baflle means arranged intermediate of the innershell and outer shell, a conduit or passage-way vertically disposed ineach chamber or compartment and communicating with the ports arranged inthe lower portion of the outer shell, a valve-controlled port arrangedin each conduit or passage-way whereby com munication between saidconduit or passage-way and its respective compartment or chamber may beeffected, and means whereby communication between the respectivecompartments or chambers and the interior of the inner shell may be had.

4. A combined cotferdam and crib. comprising a pair of cylindricalmetallic shells. the lower portion of the outer shell being flared orenlarged and provided with a se ries of ports. a series of radiallydisposed partitions arranged intermediate of the inner shell and theouter shell whereby said shells are maintained in proper spaced relationto each other and the intervening space divided intoseparatecompartmentsor chambers. a bottom arranged intermediate of theinner shell and the outer shell at a distance removed from the lowerends thereof. each of said compartmentsorchambers being provided with avertically disposed conduit comnmnicating with one of said ports. theupper end of each conduit being provided with a valve-controlled port oropening whereby communication bet-ween the conduit and the chamber orcompartment may be controlled, vertically disposed lnans arrangedintermediate of the inner shell and the outer shell arrangedconcentrically therewith whereby the flow of water in each of saidcompartments or chambers may be affected. and a series ofvalve-controlled ports arrangedin said inner shell whereby theflow ofwater into the inner shell may be controlled.

5. A combined cotferdam and crib, comprising a plurality of metallicwalls spaced apart. the inner wall providing a vertically disposed shaftor chamber open at. its lower end. a bottom arranged between said wallsso as to provide a water-tight inclosure between the inner and outerwalls. said bottom being arranged at a distance removed from the bottomedges of both walls so as to provide cutting edges. means communicatingwith the space beneath the bottom whereby water may be withdrawn fromsaid space to permit the device to settle into place. and wherebywater-or air may be forced into the space in order to force said deviceupward.controllable means arranged in the outer wall whereby water willbe permitted to flow into the inclosure between the inner and outerwalls. and one or more platforms arranged at the upper ends of the innerand outer walls.

(3. A combined colferdam and crib. comprising inner and outer metallicwalls, the inner wall providing a vertically disposed shaft or chamberopen at the lower end thereof. a bottom secured between the inner walland the outer wall a distance removed from the bottoms thereof. meanswhereby the. walls are. maintained in proper spaced relation to oneanother and a series of watertight compartments or chambers providedintermediate of the. inner wall and the outer wall. controllable meanswhereby water will be permitted to flow into a predetermined number ofcompartments or chambers, controllable means whereby water will bepermitted to flow into the vertically disposed shaft or chamber formedby the inner wall, and means whereby the water may be made to flowthrough a circuitous path within said chambers or compartments.

7. combined cotferdam and crib. comprising a plurality of metallic wallsspaced apart so as to provide intervening chambers or compartments. theouter wall being enlarged or flared at the bottom thereof while theinner wall is formed to provide a vertically disposed shaft orcompartment open at the lower end thereof. a bottom secured between theinner wall and the outer wall at a distance removed from the lower endsthereof. means whereby the water beneath the bottom may be extracted orair forced thereunder. a seriesof controllable ports or openingsarranged in the outer wall and the inner wall whereby water may beallowed to flow from points adjacent to the bottom of the outer wall andinto the vertically disposed shaft or compartment within the inner wall.and means arranged between the ports in the outer wall and the ports inthe inner wall whereby the path of the water may be controlled.

8. A combined cotferdam and crib, comprising a plurality of metallicwalls spaced apart so as to provide intervening chambers orcompartments. :1 bottom secured between the inner wall and the outerwall. the outer wall being enlarged or flared at the bottom portionthereof while the inner wall is formed to provide a vtrtically disposedshaft or chamber. a cantalivered platform secured to the upper ends ofsaid walls. the outer wall being provided with a series of flanged portsdisposed about the lower portion thereof. a series of verticallydisposed conduits arranged at points coincident with said ports andalong the inner side of the outer wall. and a series of ports arrangedin the inner wall whereby commlinication between the vertically disposedshaft or chamber and the intervening chambers or compartments may beestablished.

9. A combined cotferdam and crib. comprising an outer metallic shell andan inner metallic shell spaced apart so as to provide an interveninginclosure. the inner shell be ing formed to provide a verticallydisposed shaft or chamber open at the lower end thereof. a bottomsecured between the shells at a distance removed from the lower endsthereof. means whereby the water beneath the bottom may be extracted. avertically disposed metallic partition .s't't'lll'ttl between the outershell and inner shell. said partition being arr.-inged so as to provide.a pas sage at the bottom thereof. a series of ports arranged in theouter shell and in the inner shell at predetermined points so as tocompel the water to flow in a circuitous manner through sald inclosureand into the vert1 eallv disposed shaft or chamber, and a second seriesof ports arranged in the outer shell.

10. A combined cofl'erdain and crib, composed of a pair of metallicwalls arranged one within the other and spacedapart so as to provide anintervening, inclosure. while the inner wall provides a verticallydisposed bottomless shaft or chamber, the space between the inner walland the outer wall being provided with a floor so as to provide awater-tight inclosure between the walls, the upper portion of the outerwall being provided with a platform or landing, while the lower portionof the outer wall is provided with ports adapted to receive the ends ofwater-inlets or conduits, the inner wall being provided withvalve-controlled ports for effecting counnunication with the verticallydisposed shaft or chamber, and means whereby water may be admitted tothe intervening inclosure for the purpose of sinking or settling thestructure into place.

'ILLIAM D. BARBER.

\Yitnesses:

GEORGE Hicnmlxx, R. E. \Yiou'rolv.

